Civil unions bill won't be signed until next year

Gay couples anxious for Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to sign into law a measure giving them many of the same legal rights as heterosexual married couples will have to wait a little while longer.

Quinn, who has promised to sign the civil unions legislation, said Friday he expects to hold a bill-signing ceremony early in the new year. After he signs it, the law will go into effect in June.

By DEANNA BELLANDI

Journal Star

By DEANNA BELLANDI

Posted Dec. 3, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 3, 2010 at 2:19 AM

By DEANNA BELLANDI

Posted Dec. 3, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 3, 2010 at 2:19 AM

CHICAGO

Gay couples anxious for Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to sign into law a measure giving them many of the same legal rights as heterosexual married couples will have to wait a little while longer.

Quinn, who has promised to sign the civil unions legislation, said Friday he expects to hold a bill-signing ceremony early in the new year. After he signs it, the law will go into effect in June.

Illinois lawmakers passed the legislation earlier this week during the fall veto session at the Capitol. The law would grant official recognition to gay couples and give them rights including inheriting property when a partner dies, the authority to make medical decisions for one another and to live together in a nursing home.

"The passage this week of the civil unions legislation was historic. It's a landmark law, it's headed my way and I think it will be the law of the land of Lincoln in the coming year," Quinn said at an unrelated news conference where he helped break ground on a new parking garage.

Five other states already allow civil unions or something equivalent to it. Gay marriage is legal in five states and Washington, D.C.

Opponents of the Illinois legislation have criticized it as a move toward same-sex marriage. But Illinois law will continue to refer only to unions between men and women as "marriage" and federal law won't recognize civil unions between gay couples.

Quinn has repeatedly said the new law will help the Illinois economy and make businesses and other large gatherings like conventions want to bring their dollars to the state.

"When they're picking a convention for their particular organization, I think they look for a state that is a welcoming, accepting, hospitable place and that's what we are in Illinois. We have everybody in and nobody left out," he said.